Illinois’ state climatologist says November was abnormally cool and dry across the state.

Climatologist Jim Angel of the Illinois State Water Survey says November’s average precipitation was 1.26 inches – or 2.21 inches below normal. That makes last month the 17th driest November since record-keeping began in 1895. Precipitation was almost 10 inches below normal from January through November. Angel says the statewide average temperature for November was almost 41 degrees – 1.1 degrees below normal.

But that’s not the case when looking at the whole year so far. Preliminary data show the statewide average temperature was 57.3 degrees from January through November. That’s 3.1 degrees above normal and the second-warmest on record.

Temperatures were warmer only in 1921, when they averaged almost 58 degrees from January through November.